It was a festival of devotion, celebration and reverence – Raas Mahotsav in Guwahati. But on the evening of November 17, amidst the jubilant atmosphere, a terrible act of horror took place which shattered the sanctity of the occasion.
In the secluded premises of a hilltop Durga temple, nine young men – some barely adults, others juveniles – committed an act of unspeakable brutality. They gang-raped a young woman. What makes this already horrifying crime even more horrifying is that the perpetrators recorded the assault, their faces illuminated by the glow of their smartphones as they documented their savagery for posterity.
The video, grotesquely viral, surfaced weeks later and exposed the deep rot in society. The faces of the accused, full of arrogance and without remorse, flashed across the screens. Their crime was not just an attack on the woman but a brazen declaration of their moral collapse – a twisted sense of pride in their actions, shared on social media like a trophy. Locals recounted the temple’s descent into a den of drug addiction, where drugged and drunk youths turned sacred grounds into a haven for debauchery. Complaints had been made, warnings issued, but indifference paved the way for this ultimate atrocity.
The Guwahati incident is not isolated. Across India, a disturbing pattern has emerged. In Visakhapatnam earlier this year, three underage boys kidnapped, raped and murdered an eight-year-old girl. In Bihar’s Siwan district, two boys, aged 10 and 11, were accused of gang-raping a five-year-old. These stories, punctuated by violence and cruelty, underscore a disturbing reality: while juvenile crime has declined over the past decade, the nature of the crimes has become increasingly brutal and terrifying.
Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) indicates a decline in juvenile crimes between 2013 and 2022 – from 43,506 to 30,555. Sexual crimes committed by youth in India have also shown a downward trend over the past decade. In 2013, 2,074 cases of rape involving young people were reported, which decreased to 1,175 cases in 2022 – a decrease of about 43 percent. Similarly, cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO) involving juveniles declined from 1,815 in 2013 to 1,020 in 2022, reflecting a decrease of about 44 percent.
Despite the decline in absolute numbers, however, the proportion of sexual crimes among total juvenile crimes has remained relatively stable. In 2013, such crimes made up about 12 percent of all youth crimes, compared to about 11 percent in 2022. This suggests that while the overall incidence has decreased, the proportion of sex crimes within youth crime has not changed significantly.
It is also important to acknowledge that these statistics may not fully represent the extent of the problem, as many sex crimes go unreported due to societal stigma, fear of reprisals or lack of awareness. Although the data shows a decrease in reported cases, the actual incidence of sex crimes committed by young people may be higher.
Moreover, the decline in numbers belies a worrying change in the nature of crime. The involvement of youths in heinous crimes, such as the Nirbhaya Delhi gang-rape in 2012, which included a 17-year-old perpetrator, has forced legislative changes, including the amendment of the Juvenile Justice Act to allow youths aged 16-18 to be tried as adults for heinous crimes crime.
Experts point to a confluence of factors fueling this grim trend. Access to unfiltered and often violent pornography, the desire to emulate hypermasculine ideals propagated in some parts of the media and the unregulated use of social media platforms contribute significantly. The Guwahati case shows the tendency among youth to record their crimes as a twisted form of validation or bravado. The perpetrators not only dehumanized their victim but sought digital immortality for their atrocities.
Social conditions exacerbate the problem. Broken families, financial differences, peer pressure and abuse create a breeding ground for deviant behavior. In many cases, young people seek escapism in alcohol, drugs or online pornography – influences that distort their understanding of consent and respect. Additionally, the absence of proper sex education and dialogue at home and in schools leaves young minds vulnerable to misinformation and misguided exploration.
The Guwahati case highlights not only the perpetrators’ lack of remorse but also the collective failure of society. Locals had earlier reported incidents of drug and alcohol abuse near the temple premises but received no substantial response. This indifference created a dangerous environment, culminating in the November 17 tragedy.
More than a decade after the Nirbhaya case sparked nationwide outrage and legal reforms, the rise in brutal sex crimes by young people reveals a societal failure to address the root of the problem. Although reforms have strengthened punitive measures, prevention remains insufficient. Experts stress the urgent need for comprehensive sex education, parental supervision and community intervention. Platforms such as social media must enforce stricter rules to curb the glorification and dissemination of criminal acts.
The emergence of such crimes calls for introspection and action. Children and youth, often hailed as tomorrow’s torchbearers, navigate a maze of misinformation, neglect and toxic influences. Without proactive measures to address their vulnerabilities, society risks raising another generation trapped in cycles of violence and victimhood. The horrific Guwahati case, a chilling reminder of these efforts, should serve as a clarion call for urgent, systemic change.
